Outboard motor tilting mechanism



Oct. 15, 1963 1.. s. MONROE OUTBOARD MOTOR TILTING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 27. 1960 Levi G. Monroe INVENTOR. H 'v Afi'ys.

United States Patent 3,107,073 OUTBOARD MOTOR TILTING MECHANISM Levi G. Monroe, $13 Alta St, Medford, Greg. Filed Oct. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 65,516 4 Claims. (Cl. 248-4) This invention relates to novel mechanism for tilting or swinging an outboard motor at the rear end of a boat upwardly from its lowered, normal operating position. Such tilting of the motor may be required, for instance, in shallow water, or prior to beaching the boat, when conventional dock facilities are not available. The mechanism of the invention is characterized by a number of novel features that make it useful and practical for boat owners.

A general object of the invention is to provide improved motor-tilting mechanism that is simple to use and relatively trouble-free in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide motortilting mechanism [for an outboard motor that may be installed on the outside of the rear transom of a boat, and that includes means interposed between the transom and the outboard motor that is operable on extension to produce tilting of the outboard motor. Installing the mechanism requires no cutting or other modification of the boat construction.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide tilting mechanism for an outboard motor comprising an upright ram positioned on the outside of a boats rear transom and extending upwardly between the motor and the boat, with follower means mounted on the end of the ram, and cam elements mounted on the motor and boat transom that are spread apart by the follower means on extension of the ram to produce tilting of the motor.

Preferably, two sets of cam elements are used, and the cam elements of one set are disposed adjacent one side of the motor and the cam elements of the other set are disposed adjacent the other side of the motor. The ram is positioned between the two sets of cam elements and the follower means includes a mechanism for each set of cam elements engageable with the cam elements. The organization described is balanced and compact, and permits the mechanism to be included on a boat without interfering with the proper positioning of the motor on the boat.

The tilting mechanism is constructed so that the motor can swing upwardly should it inadvertently strike an obstruction in the water. When this occurs, the cam elements that are secured to the motor swing clear of the follower means provided on the ram. The invention contemplates means :whereby when the motor subsequently drops to its lowered, normal operating position, the follower means provided on the ram and the cam elements secured to the motor are in correct operating relationship.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of novel releasable latch means for holding the motor in its lowered, normal operating position (facilitating reverse operation of the motor). The latch means is releasable, to enable the motor to swing up when it encounters an obstruction as described. The amount of force needed to produce release is adjustable.

Other features and objects of the invention will become more apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the acompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an outboard motor-tilting mechanism constructed according to an embodiment of the invention, showing the mechanism mounted on the rear transom of a boat and used in conjunction with a conventional form of outboard motor which is indicated in dashed outline;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, similar to the side elevation of FIG. 1, but showing a ram in the mechanism partially extended and the motor swung from its lowered toward its raised position; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, slightly enlarged, taken along the line 44 in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 indicates, in dashed outline, the rear transom of a boat, An outboard motor of conventional construction is indicated in dashed outline at 12. Outboard motor 12 is mounted on boat transom 1-3 by means of a clamp bracket 14 having clamping screws 16 for fastening the bracket 14 securely on transom 10. Motor 12 is pivotally mounted on clamp bracket 14 by pivot connections or means 18. The motor in -F1G. 1 is shown in its lowered, normal operation position. Pivot connections 18 accommodate swinging or tilting of the motor in an arc extending upwardly and to the rear of the boat about an axis that extends transversely of the boat. Thus, the motor may swing from the lowered position shown to a raised position where it is substantially horizontal. Such pivotal movement of the motor is needed, for insatnce, when beaching the boat, or in the event that the motor should strike an obstruction.

The mechanism for tilting the motor comprises, in broad terms, a pair of cam means, indicated generally at 29 and 22, laterally spaced from each other relative to the boat and disposed one adjacent one side and one adjacent the other side of motor 19. The cam means are carried on the outside of the boat transsom. Each includes a set or pair of cam elements, indicated for cam means 20 at Zita and 26b, and for cam means 22 at 22a and 225. Operating in conjunction with cam means 20, 22, and constituting a power-actuated means in the mechanism, is an elongated ram 24-. Releasable latch means or mechanism 26 is provided for releasably holding the outboard motor in its lowered, normal operat ng position.

Considering the construction more specifically, 30 indicates a mounting plate secured to the outside of the boat transom as by screws 32. The plate extends up and down approximately at the midline of the boat, which is the usual approximate position of outboard motor 12, when a single motor is used to power the boat. The mounting plate provides a convenient means for mounting on the outside of the boat transom cam elements 29a and 22a and ram 24.

Cam elements 2.9a and 22a are similar in shape. Each has a cam surface 34 that extends upwardly along portion 34a, then slopes outwardly along portion 34b and then curves upwardly and inwardly toward the boat along portion 340. The cam elements are joined to plate 39 (and thus secured to the boat transom) in any suitable manner as by welding.

Cam elements 2%, 2215 are inside of elements 29a, 22a and are secured to outboard motor 12 as by screws 36. The two cam elements are similar in shape. Each has a cam surface 38 that extends upwardly along portion 38a, slopes inwardly toward the boat along portion 38b, and then curves upwardly and outwardly along portion 38c, with the motor in its lowered, normal operating position. The cam elements of cm means 2%) are adjacent each other and their cam surfaces converge on each other in a direction progressing upwardly. The same is true of the cam elements of cam means 22.

Ram 24 has a cylinder end 24:; pivotally connected by a pivot connection 4% to mounting plate 3% The ram extends upwardly from pivot connection 46 between transom it) and motor 12, and has a rod end 24b equipped with a pair of follower means, indicated generally at 4'6,

:3 47. One of the follower means (46) engages the cam surfaces of the cam elements 25a, 2%, and the other of the follower means (47) engages the cam surfaces of the cam elements 22a, 22b.

The follower means are mounted on the rod end of ram 24 through a horizontal crosspiece Si that parallels the boat rear transom and extends transversely of the ram. Crosspieee 50 is secured on the rod end of the ram by nuts 52 on either side of the crosspiece and screwed onto the rod end.

The two follower means are similar and only one will be described in detail. With reference in particular to FIG. 4, and describing follower 1 cans 46, this comprises a pair of wheels or rollers :78, 69 rotatably mounted on the end of the crosspiece. Cotter pin d2 holds the wheels on the ends of the crosspiece. One of the wheels (53) rides on the cam surface of cam 2%. The other wheel (6%) rides on the cam surface of cam 20a.

Extending about the cylinder end of ram 24 is a coil tension spring or bias means 65. This has ends anchored on the boat transom, as by bracket 63 that is part of plate 3%. This spring urges the follower means mounted on the rod end of the ram against cam surfaces of cam elements 20a, 22a. In the event the motor should swing upwardly on striking an underwater obstruction, the spring prevents the ram and follower means from swinging to the right and down in FIGS. 1-3, and to an inoperative position with respect to the cam elements.

, Considering now releasable latch mechanism 26, this comprises a pair of laterally spaced apart latch members 72. pivoted by connections 73 to lugs 75 integral with mounting plate 3-9. Latch members 72 have hooked ends that fit over a catch means or bar 74 that has ends joined to cam elements 29b, 22b, as shown in FIG. 1. The latch members are urged downwardly over the top of the catch bar by a coil compression spring 76, having its upper end seated on a projection 30 joined to the mounting plate, and its lower end bearing on a nut 82. Nut 82 may be turned on a pin 83 extending through the coil spring to adjust the downward pressure exerted on the latch members 72 by spring 76.

A pair of toggle link structures 84, 86 are provided for releasing the latch members from bar 74. One is connected to each latch member. The two toggle link structures are similar, and each comprises a pair of links such as links 87, 88 pivotally joined together at one set of ends by pivot connection 89. The other ends of links 37, 38 are pivotally connected to a lug 75 and a latch member, respectively. Links 87 of the toggle link structure are in the path of crosspiece 5% when it is moved upwardly on extension of the ram. Thus, when ram 24 is extended, the toggle link structures are straightened out, with raising of the latch members to a position clear of the catch bar. This releases the motor so that it is free to swing upwardly on continued extension of the ram.

Latch members 72 have curved surfaces 72a that face toward the rear of the boat. With the motor fully raised, spring 76 forces the latch members down to the fully lowered position they have in FIG. 1. This would place them in the way of catch bar 74 on subsequent lowering of the motor, if some means were not provided for first shifting them out of the way. Surfaces 72a perform this shifting function. Thus, they are shaped to be wedged against by bar 74 on lowering of the motor (as shown in FIG. 3) causing the catch members to swing upwardly whereby the bar 74 may return beneath the latch members, to the position of FIG. 1. Swinging of the latch members upwardly during lowering of the motor also results in links 37 swinging up and out of the way of crosspiece 50 as it is being returned to its lowered position.

The operation of the device should be obvious. To tilt the motor upwardly, ram 24 is extended, with the crosspiece first releasing the latch means holding down the motor, and the follower means then spreading apart the cam elements of cam means 29, 22 causing swinging of rear and upwardly, with the releasable latch mechanism re-' leasing automatically when the force urging the motor rearwardly relative to the boat transom reaches a certain level. This is by reason of the fact that the hooked ends of the latch members can slide off of bar '74 with compression of spring if the bar is urged rearwardly with sufficient force. Adjusting the spring pressure of spring 7e changes the amount of force needed to produce release.

It should be apparent that the tilting apparatus of the invention has several outstanding advantages. The mech anism can be installed on the outside of the transom of a boat without modification of the transom. Installation is made easily and quickly. The mechanism, by using means moving up against complementing cam elements with converging cam surfaces, makes possible positive and smooth lifting of the motor with a ram of relatively small size. The mechanism takes up little room, and does not interfere with proper mounting of the motor at the rear of the boat ransom. Lifting forces applied to the motor are balanced.

While there has been described a single embodiment of the invention, it is appreciated that changes may be made in the parts and their organization without departing therefrom, and it is desired to cover all modifications and variations that would be apparent to one skilled in the art and that come within the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A boat having a rear transom, a tiltable outboard motor mounted on said rear transom, and power-actuated mechanism for tilting the outboard motor, said mechanism comprising an extensible ram with rod and cylinder ends, means mounting one of the ends of the rain on the outside of the rear transom of the boat with the ram extending upwardly from said one end, follower means secured to the other end of the ram, a cam outside the boat and secured to the outboard motor and another cam outside the boat and secured to the rear transom of the boat, each of said cams having a cam surface disposed above said ram and the cam surfaces of the two cams converging on each other progressing in an upward direction and engaging said follower means, and bias means for urging the follower means against the cam surface of said cam which is secured to the rear transom of the boat, extension of said ram being operable to move said follower means upwardly on the converging surfaces of the cams so as to urge spreading apart of the cams and tilting of the outboard motor.

2. A boat having a rear transom, an outboard motor, a bracket secured to the rear transom of the boat, means pivotally mounting the outboard motor on said bracket whereby the motor may be swung in an are extending upwardly to the rear of the boat, an elongated ram with rod and cylinder ends outside the rear transom of the boat with one end pivotally mounted on the boat and the ram extending upwardly from said one end, a first cam element mounted on the outside of the rear transom having a first cam surface extending upwardly and then sloping outwardly to the rear of the boat, a second cam element mounted on to the motor outside the boat and having a second cam surface extending upwardly and then sloping inwardly toward the boat that converges on said first cam surface, and follower means mounted on the other end of said ram, said cam elements being positioned with respect to said follower means with their cam surfaces engaging the follower means, said cam elements it his.

pivotally mounting the outboard motor on said bracket whereby the motor may be swung in an arc extending upwardly to the rear of the boat, an elongated ram with rod and cylinder ends outside the rear transom of the boat with one end pivotally mounted on the boat and the ram extending upwardly from said one end, a pair of cam means outside the rear transom of the boat and spaced from each other in a lateral direction relative to the boat, one adjacent one side and one adjacent the other side of said motor, each of said cam means comprising a first cam element secured to said transom having a cam surface that extends upwardly and then slopes outwardly to the rear of the boat, and a second cam element secured to the motor having a cam surface that extends upwardly and then slopes inwardly toward the boat so that it converges on the cam surface of the first cam element, a crosspiece secured to the other end of said ram References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,705,982 Points Apr. 12, 1955 2,893,342 Langford July 7, 1959 2,966,876 MacWilliam Jan. 3, 1961 3,030,055 Larson Apr. 17, 1962 

1. A BOAT HAVING A REAR TRANSOM, A TILTABLE OUTBOARD MOTOR MOUNTED ON SAID REAR TRANSOM, AND POWER-ACTUATED MECHANISM FOR TILTING THE OUTBOARD MOTOR, SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING AN ESTENSIBLE RAM WITH ROD AND CYLINDER ENDS, MEANS MOUNTING ONE OF THE ENDS OF THE RAM ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE REAR TRANSOM OF THE BOAT WITH THE RAM EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID ONE END, FOLLOWER MEANS SECURED TO THE OTHER END OF THE RAM, A CAM OUTSIDE THE BOAT AND SECURED TO THE OUTBOARD MOTOR AND ANOTHER CAM OUTSIDE THE BOAT AND SECURED TO THE REAR TRANSOM OF THE BOAT, EACH OF SAID CAMS HAVING A CAM SURFACE DISPOSED ABOVE SAID RAM AND THE CAM SURFACES OF THE TWO CAMS CONVERGING ON EACH OTHER PROGRESSING IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION AND ENGAGING SAID FOLLOWER MEANS, AND BIAS MEANS FOR URGING THE FOLLOWER MEANS AGAINST THE CAM SURFACE OF SAID CAM WHICH IS SECURED TO THE REAR TRANSOM OF THE BOAT, EXTENSION OF SAID RAM BEING OPERABLE TO MOVE SAID FOLLOWER MEANS UPWARDLY ON THE CONVERGING SURFACES OF THE CAMS SO AS TO URGE SPREADING APART OF THE CAM AND TILTING OF THE OUTBOARD MOTOR. 